Lighting makes up to 10% of total energy use in the average home, or about $120 - 150 per year on electricity bills. While it’s not the biggest energy user in the home, it’s an easy area to make efficiency improvements.
Saving energy on lighting
- The simplest way to save on lighting is to switch them off in rooms that aren’t being used
- It is a myth that switching lights off and on uses more energy than leaving them running. As a guide, if you are leaving a room for 10 minutes or more, turn the light off on the way out
- Use motion sensors or timers for outdoor security lights rather than running them continuously
- Remember to make the most of your natural light, particularly from north facing windows. Consider skylights for the kitchen and bathroom
- Keep lights and fittings clean. Dust on lamps and reflectors reduce light emitted and are less energy efficient
- Choose the right light for the right environment and make the most of the natural light available.
Types of lighting
Incandescent bulbs
"Standard" incandescent light bulbs have been used for over 125 years, however they are very inefficient with over 90% of the electricity they consume wasted as heat.
The Federal Government is gradually phasing out incandescent light bulbs. The standard incandescent light bulbs will be banned from sale from February 2010. Find out more
Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL)
The most common efficient alternative is the compact fluorescent lamp (CFL). These use 80% less energy than incandescent bulbs and last around 10 times longer.
They are the same technology as the tubular fluorescent lights we have used in our homes and businesses for decades. Each CFL can save as much as $15 per year on energy bills if installed in high usage areas of the home such as the living room or kitchen.
CFLs contain a small amount of mercury, and therefore should be disposed of safely. Find out more about CFL safety, including how to dispose of CFLs.
Halogen bulbs
Another efficient alternative for standard light fittings is a new type of bulb that uses halogen technology inside a standard bulb. They use 30% less energy and last twice as long as incandescent bulbs.
Each halogen replacement bulb can save as much as $6 per year on energy bills if installed in high usage areas of the home such as the living room or kitchen.
These halogen bulbs look exactly the same as standard incandescent bulbs, are dimmable and don’t contain mercury.
Halogen downlights
Downlight fittings have become increasingly popular in new and renovated homes.
A standard low voltage halogen downlight uses around the same energy as a standard 60 watt incandescent bulb (when the transformer losses are included). We tend to install more downlight fittings per room than we would standard lights - this generally results in higher energy use.
A simple and efficient alternative for downlight fittings is to change to ‘infra-red coated’ (IRC) halogen lamps. These lamps cost more but use 30% less energy, last twice as long as standard halogen lamps, and look exactly the same.
Another efficient alternative is compact fluorescent downlights. Much like standard CFLs, they can provide energy savings of up to 80%, and last around 10 times longer. However, they operate at 240V mains voltage, so require a completely different lamp fitting to low voltage downlights. This can make replacement expensive. They are also generally not dimmable.
Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs)
LEDs are the newest innovation in lighting technologies with increasing applications in home lighting.
LEDs have a maximum life expectancy of up to 50,000 hours, 50 years for the average household light, and can use up to 75% less energy than the standard incandescent.
LED lamps can be made to look like normal incandescent or halogen globes and to fit into conventional fittings.
Although LEDs currently have a higher purchase cost, they can be energy and cost efficient when considering the entire life of the lamp.
But, not all LED lamps are alike and it is important that you make the right choice to avoid disappointment. When considering an LED lamp for your home, speak with the experts at your specialist lighting shop to get advice on which lamp suits your needs.